Namibian President Sam Nujoma travelled to Zambia on Thursday ahead of trips to Kenya, Tanzania and later this month to China and Malaysia as part of a farewell tour before stepping down in March.
Nujoma, who is travelling with members of his Cabinet, is to open a trade fair in Zambia before heading to a summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa opening on Monday.
After visits in Kenya and Tanzania, Nujoma will go to China on July 19 and Malaysia.
”The president’s travel schedule between July and September could be seen as a series of goodbye visits,” said an official who asked not to be named.
Nujoma (75) is stepping down after five decades as the Southern African country’s dominant political figure.
The former liberation hero announced in April that he will not be seeking a fourth term in office in elections to be held in November.
Land Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba was chosen in May to stand as the candidate for the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation.
This is the second round of trips for Nujoma who went to Brazil, Cuba, Ghana and Angola as part of a tour that ended on Sunday. — Sapa-AFP